Beyond the Performance Race: Isn't Life Richer Than Just Money and Success?
Martina Ercoli
EMEA Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Program Manager @NVIDIA | HR Lecturer | Keynote Speaker on how Philosophy and Neuroscience can foster wellbeing and inclusive culture
Our work culture often celebrates long hours as a sign of commitment and passion in a society driven by ambition and the relentless pursuit of success. But is this truly what we desire? Or are we simply falling victim to societal pressures?
Recently, I interviewed a hiring manager who mentioned that if there were one thing he could change about his job, it would be "to have more hours in the day to work", because he loves his job so much! I couldn't help but wonder – is this truly a personal wish or an echo of societal expectations?
Do We Really Want More Hours? It's a widespread belief that showcasing an insatiable appetite for work equates to loving our job. The standard narrative suggests that if we're genuinely passionate about our work, we'd wish to work every waking moment. But I really believe that's a misconstrued notion. Loving your job doesn't require an unending devotion to it, like how even a movie enthusiast wouldn't wish to watch films for eight hours every day. It's not about endless love or passion; it's about balance. It's high time we realize that yearning for success and wealth is not the only life goal. Employers must recognize this, too.
Here are two essential points we should consider:
1- Inclusivity in the Workplace.
Inclusiveness means valuing Different Life Goals: recognizing that individuals have unique life goals and values. Someone might not prioritize work for their entire life but must still be goal-driven and high-performing. Those who find a balance and don't overly identify with their work might have a lower risk of burnout and breakdowns.
?2. Redefining Success and Value.
Society often measures success in terms of wealth and recognition. However, many value other aspects of life equally, if not more. Using only success and money as yardsticks can be exclusionary.
If you Google, What are the top 5 things people regret when they die? The second one is, "I wish I hadn't worked so hard." This comes from many interviews done years over the years with people in care homes nearing the end of their lives. None expressed a wish to have worked more. It's a testament to the fact that life's most treasured moments often lie outside the confines of the workplace.
The misconception of the overachiever
In the journey of self-discovery, I often identified myself using the title that society handed to me: 'overachiever'. Well, It's a common misconception that my zeal to excel stems from an insatiable love for my job or placing it on a pedestal above all. In fact, I would say I definitely like the job I do, but I centranly don't love it. As love is mesmerising, profound and overwhelming, three things I will never want my job to be. In reality, my drive comes from a simple principle: if I embark on a task, I wish to do it well. It's about the inherent joy derived from executing a job flawlessly and the intellectual satisfaction of innovating smarter methods to complete tasks. Work smarter, not harder!
Both employees and employers need to recognize and respect diverse life priorities. I want to start to be a genuine testimonial and champion of a work culture where balance, and not endless hours, signifies true passion, commitment and excellent performance.
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